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14 Apr 2013

Valisia LeKae and Brandon Victor Dixon

Photo by Joan Marcus

Music pioneer Berry Gordy brings his life story to the stage in Motown, the new jukebox musical that takes audiences through the highs and lows of life in the recording industry, which officially opens April 14 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. The hit-filled musical stars Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon and Valisia LaKae.

Prior to opening, and without any major critical endoresments thus far, Motown is already one of the top-grossing Broadway productions of the season. It has been playing to sold-out houses, grossing upwards of $1 million weekly for all four weeks of its preview period – a record for any Broadway show to arrive in New York without an out-of-town tryout.

According to producers, "Motown tells the gripping story behind the hits as Smokey finds his unique voice, Diana skyrockets to stardom and Berry fights against the odds to turn his improbable dream into a triumphant reality. The music that shattered barriers and shaped our lives finally comes to the Broadway stage in the season's most highly anticipated world-premiere event."

Motown has scenic design by David Korins, costume design by ESosa, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Peter Hylenski, projection design by Daniel Brodie, and choreography by Patricia Wilcox (Blues in the Night) and Warren Adams ("Toy Story"). Motown features arrangements and orchestrations by Ethan Popp, with co-orchestrations and additional arrangements by Bryan Crook, dance arrangements by Zane Mark and music direction by Joseph Joubert.